Wood: Sitka spruce, vertical and straight grain, 3/4 inch thick. Grain Orientation: Shaft: perpendicular to blades. Blades: parallel to blades. This crossgrain laminate orients the grain in the best direction for a strong shaft and durable blade edges.
Lamination Glue: Epoxy thickened with West System Microfibers after saturation. Paddle Length: 84 inches. Loom Length: 24 inches. Blade Length: 30 inches. Loom Diameter: 1 3/8" (front to back) x 1 3/16" (top to bottom), with top and bottom rounding lines 5/16 inch from edges and front and back rounding lines 1/4 inch from edges. Shoulder: None. Blade Width at Ends: 3 1/2 inches. Blade Tip Thickness: 1/2 inch (before rounding). Blade Edge Thickness: 1/4 inch the first 21 inches from ends and then tapers to root 5/16 inch from edges. Round the transition with a straight line between points 3 inches to each side. The 1/4 inch blade edge thickness is then beveled down to 1/8 inch.
Blade Face: Taper ¼ inch from edges at root to centerline 15 inches (halfway) down the blade. Round the transition with a straight line between points 6 inches to each side.
Tip Radius: 3 1/2 inches (equal to blade width). Shaping Note: Round all edges. Hardened Wood: After the wood is progressively sanded down to 220 grit sandpaper, it is wetted to raise the grain, and after it dries, the raised grain is sanded smooth with 220 grit. The wood is hardened to make it more dent resistant by rubbing it hard with the side of a screw driver that has a round shaft. Only one hand is used on the screw driver, because two hands is too much pressure. The wood is very lightly sanded again with 220 grit.
Tip Reinforcement: 1 ½ inch wide strip of carbon fiber on each side of blades. Sealant: Two light coats of epoxy, with first coat sanded smooth with 220 grit and the second coat lightly wet sanded with 400 grit and then rubbed with wet "0" synthetic steel wool for the perfect grip. No paint or varnish. The tips are covered with epoxy thickened slightly with graphite powder. Completed Weight: approximately 32 oz. Directions: The directions I recommend for carving a wooden Greenland paddle are by Chuck Holst at the Qajaq USA website. Matt Johnson has an online video on how to carve a wooden Greenland paddle using Holst's directions. Brian Nystrom has an excellent book on building Greenland paddles that you can order online at www.greenlandpaddlebook.com. Sizing Note: I have veered slightly from the standard anthropometrical sizing provided in most texts and prefer a shorter paddle (84" instead of 88") and a longer loom (24" instead of 20"), which allow me to paddle more aggressively. My height is 5 feet, 10 inches and my kayak is 21 inches wide. Video: Watch my Talking Greenland Paddle video. The Point Bennett Sea Kayak This page © Copyright 2006-2007, Duane Strosaker. All rights reserved. |
